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by Janice Sharp, posted by Deb Shaw
Exploring stencil leaf rubbings in graphite and colored pencil at The Huntington. BAGSC artists are demonstrating for the public August 1 – 9 in conjunction with our group show of botanical oddities by the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California. “Weird, Wild & Wonderful,” The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, will be open each day through August 9, and then weekends only through August 23. Photo © Janice Sharp, 2015.
Today was a great family day at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. All afternoon groups of children were attracted to the stencils, pencils and paper we had set out to try their hand at preparing botanical themed rubbings.
Children had fun creating leaf and flower rubbings from stencil templates. They explored the different graphite pencil hardnesses and the effect that could be achieved with light and hard pressure on the pencils. Some ventured into color pencils choosing a favorite color to create shapes or writing their name to claim ownership of their creations. One adventurous artist started with graphite to define outlines then filled in with color.
While most of the budding artists were very young, there were also older “children” who wanted to create a work of art.
I had a fun afternoon giving basic instructions on how to do a rubbing, although most of my time seemed to be spent handing out fresh pieces of paper and sharpening pencils.
Exploring stencil leaf rubbings in graphite and colored pencil at The Huntington. Photo © Janice Sharp, 2015.
A number of parents had to use all their persuasive powers to convince their children that The Huntington offered activities other than rubbings and they should explore them before the close of day.
by Lori Vreeke, posted by Deb Shaw
Flower images photographed by Lori Vreeke at the Santa Barbara Zoo, © 2015, all rights reserved.
BAGSC will be holding a juried exhibition at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, entitled “Zoo in Bloom”.
All current BAGSC members in good standing are eligible to enter up to two (2) original works of art of botanical flowering specimens grown at the zoo (no prints). Artwork must depict plants that grow at the Zoo, but does not have to be drawn there. There is no size limitation, and works may have been shown in previous BAGSC, ASBA, Filoli or other exhibitions.
The exhibition will continue through the end of the 2015 and will be open every day to visitors of the zoo. Due to space constraints, this will be a juried show with approximately 30 pieces of art hung. Jurors will be a zoo representative, a local Southern California juror and a juror from the UK. All original artwork must be for sale, prints not allowed.
Submission Deadline is September 5, 2015. Questions? Contact Lori Vreeke.
Flower images photographed by Lori Vreeke at the Santa Barbara Zoo, © 2015, all rights reserved.
A plant list and the Call for Entries packet will be emailed to BAGSC members.
The opening reception for this wonderful opportunity will be in conjunction with the gala celebrating Santa Barbara Zoo Members Day, running from 9:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday, October 3, 2015. BAGSC artists will be demonstrating throughout the day in the gardens and an information table will be set up to answer any questions about our exhibit and BAGSC. Sign-up requests to follow.
The Santa Barbara zoo is home to over 600 animals on 30 acres of lush gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The property was originally home to a private residence and was gifted to the city as a park. In 1963, the zoo opened to the public featuring formal gardens and lawns, native plants and trees, cacti and succulents, ornamentals and exotic species throughout the park to recreate natural habitat.
Flower images photographed by Lori Vreeke at the Santa Barbara Zoo, © 2015, all rights reserved.
by Deb Shaw
Invitation to BAGSC adjunct exhibition.
In conjunction with “Weird, Wild, and Wonderful” The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, the Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC) will present a supplemental exhibition from August 1–9, in the Brody Botanical Center’s Banta Hall at The Huntington, featuring free public demonstrations, lectures about botanical art, and specimens of botanical curiosities. The BAGSC adjunct exhibition features 72 artworks by 37 members.
An exhibition of Botanical Oddities…
illustrations by the
Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California
in The Frances Lasker Brody Botanical Center
At The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
August 1–9, 2015 (closed Tuesday)
10:30 am – 4:30 pm
We will have a reception for BAGSC members, our guests, and Huntington VIPs and staff at:
10:00 am this Saturday, August 1, 2015
before The Huntington opens to the public.
The “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” New York Triennial exhibition also will be open the entire time the BAGSC exhibition is up, August 1 – 9, except on Tuesday, when The Huntington is closed.
Weird, Wild & Wonderful exhibition dates:
June 13 – August 23
Exhibition open to the public weekends only and each day August 1–9
Additional exhibition information: asba-art.org/exhibitions/weird-wild-wonderful
Exhibition information and hours posted at huntington.org
Artists in the BAGSC exhibition include:
Bonnie Born Ash, Cristina Baltayian, Nancy Beckham, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Jan Clouse, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Nancy Grubb, Asuka Hishiki, Cynthia Jackson, Susan Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Teri Kuwahara, Patricia Mark, Lee McCaffree, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Kathy Morgan, Terri Munroe, Alyse Ochniak, Marilyn Parrino, Dolores Pope, Kathlyn Powell, Lesley Randall, Veronica Raymond, Robyn Reilman, Norma Sarkin, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, Deborah Shaw, Beth Stone, Gayle Uyehara, Lori Vreeke, Leslie Walker, Jude Wiesenfeld.
Download the full invitation here: bagscExhibitionInviteF
by Beth Stone
It’s pre-dawn on Friday and we’ve loaded our sleepy selves into The Huntington van with Jim Folsom at the wheel. We’re off to see the flowers, the wonderful flowers of the LA Flower Mart!
Peonies, Clematis and Lilies oh my!
We could while away the hours, conversing with the flowers…
and it’s back to The Huntington with The Wizard!
by Beth Stone
photographs by Gayle Uyehara
An enthusiastic group of artists enjoyed three days with Elaine Searle for her class entitled “Liquid Shine…Sculpting Form with Light and Color”. This was one of two Weird, Wild & Wonderful pre-symposium classes held at The Huntington this week. Gilly Shaeffer searched everywhere until finally her artist’s eye found beautiful Italian peppers for our studies. The class explored the differences between Sheen, Shine and Liquid Shine learning a host of indispensable techniques and tips.
Elaine Searle (back of room) made good use of the projection system in The Engemann Applied Tech Lab for demonstrations. Even Jim Folsom stepped in to help by printing personal photographic pepper portraits (see sample in foreground).
Terri Monroe thoughtfully applying finishing touches to her pepper.
The class joins in a group status check mid way through the third and final day.
Elaine Searle (far left) treated the class to an overview of just a few samples of her beautiful artwork.
by Beth Stone
There are two georgeous Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri) paintings featured in the Weird, Wild & Wonderful exhibition currently on display at The Huntington. The hauntingly beautiful flowers can measure up to 12″ across with “whiskers” up to 30″ long. Did I ever expect to see these jungle flowers in Southern California? Certainly not, but I must have forgotten I was in such a magical place! A whole row of plants appeared in The Huntington’s Banta Hall this morning!
Bring on the dramatic theater lighting and just watch how this villainess poses for the camera!
by Beth Stone
The LA Times dubbed the weather WEIRD, while plant lovers call it WONDERFUL!!
Symposium week is finally here! There are two great workshops underway — Mieko Ishikawa and Elaine Searle, and attendees are getting a preview as the Banta Hall displays are being assembled.
by Beth Stone
The call for entries has been sent (see email from Deb Shaw dated 5/5/15) for BAGSC ‘s very own adjunct exhibition to “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, Botanical Illustrations of Remarkable Plants” coming to The Huntington’s Brody Botanical Center.
BAGSC members of all experience levels are encouraged to enter at least one artwork (limit is 3 artworks per member). To date we have a list of nearly 50 subjects from 25 artists, we’re expecting many more.
Botanical oddities and curiosities could be those found locally, in natural surroundings or a botanical garden. If you’re looking for more inspiration, Dick Rauh, PhD offered ideas to artists on potentially pertinent plants: http://asba-art.org/article/weird-wild-and-wonderful-suggested-subjects. We’d like to include as many different species as possible.
So…what visually unusual, bizarre, beautiful (or not) subject have you chosen?
We have an important deadline, here’s how you can help:
Please email the complete botanical name of your choices ASAP but no later than Wednesday, May 27, 2015 to Beth Stone. Don’t worry, this does not obligate you to submit those works.
The cut-off date is when we will submit our “list of plant subjects” as best we know it to The Huntington so they can start planning on signage, related plants from the Garden, microscopes and more, linking our artworks to The Huntington’s vast plant collection in creative, and no doubt “wonderful”, ways.
by Janice Sharp and Beth Stone
Gilly Shaeffer demonstrating her watercolor technique. Gilly Shaeffer demonstrating her watercolor technique. Photo credit: Brad King (SCCS President).
In January of 2015 BAGSC staged a show entitled A Passion for Camellias in Van de Kamp Hall at Descanso Gardens. The exhibit was an exciting addition to the first Camellia flower show of the 2015 show season. BAGSC members were on hand all that weekend to answer questions and to provide demonstrations.
At the request of Descanso Gardens, 11 art works from the initial display of 20 have been re-hung in the historic and beautifully restored Boddy House where they are expected to remain well into 2016. Art works were selected to represent as many contributing artists as possible. The area where the botanicals are hanging invites close observation, along the interior hallway leading to and spilling into the kitchen.
You’ll want to set aside some time to bring friends and family to visit Descanso Gardens and see this lovely display in person. For an orientation to the Boddy House, please refer to the Descanso Gardens web site: https://www.descansogardens.org/explore/boddy-house
Artist Tania Norris chatting with Camellia enthusiast Hiromi Sato.
While you’re there, be sure to stop into the Sturt Haaga Gallery to see California Light opening May 3rd:
https://www.descansogardens.org/explore/upcoming-exhibition/
Many thanks to David Brown, Susan Armstrong and Cris Martinez of Descanso Gardens for welcoming BAGSC’s Passion for Camellias to the Boddy House.
Watercolor of C. japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’ by Clara Josephs, © 2015, all rights reserved.
Camellia Botanicals in Descanso’s Boddy House.
by Beth Stone and Deb Shaw
Solanum lycopersicum, Heirloom Tomato, Watercolor on paper, © Asuka Hishiki
BAGSC will be holding an adjunct exhibition to “Weird, Wild & Wonderful: The New York Botanical Garden Second Triennial Exhibition, Botanical Illustrations of Remarkable Plants” in Banta Hall at The Huntington’s Brody Botanical Center.
The theme of this exhibition will focus on botanical specimens of plants compatible with the theme of the New York exhibition, “Weird, Wild & Wonderful.” Curated by the ASBA and originally opening in New York in 2014, “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” will open June 13 and continue through August 23 in The Huntington’s Brody Botanical Center, Flori-Legium Room, San Marino, California. The exhibition will be open to the public Saturdays and Sundays during the summer, plus additional times during workshops and the Symposium. The exhibition also will be open to the public August 1 – 9 along with the BAGSC “Weird, Wild & Wonderful” adjunct exhibition.
BAGSC artists are invited to seek visually unusual plants and create works of art that celebrate the bizarre, yet beautiful flora of the world. Botanical oddities and curiosities could be those found locally, in natural surroundings or a botanical garden. Dick Rauh, PhD offered ideas to artists on potentially pertinent plants: http://asba-art.org/article/weird-wild-and-wonderful-suggested-subjects.
The “Call for Entries” packet will be sent out via email blast to members soon. Members will be able to enter up to three works. It is our hope to include at least one art work from each and every BAGSC member. So whether you are an experienced exhibitor or you have not yet entered a show, please read the call for entries when you receive it and get to work on your entry now! Framing will be “artists’ choice.”
Some deadlines to mark on your calendar:
- ASAP: We will be coordinating with BAGSC artists and The Huntington to include as many different species as possible. Please let us know what you have, are painting, or are considering painting. Please email the complete botanical name of your choices ASAP to Beth Stone. Don’t worry, this does not obligate you to submit those works.
- Wednesday, May 27, 2015: This date is the absolute deadline for getting your list emailed to Beth Stone of what you have, are painting, or are considering painting. We will submit our “list of plant subjects” as best we know it to The Huntington so they can start planning on signage, related plants from the Garden, microscopes and more to go with our exhibition.
- Wednesday, July 1, 2015: July 1 is the deadline for digital submissions, entry fee and complete entry forms.
Questions about the exhibition? Contact Bonnie Born Ash or Beth Stone.
Need some Weird, Wild & Wonderful inspiration?
Kathy Musial, The Huntington’s curator of living collections, and Huntington horticultural staff will give BAGSC members a private tour of the greenhouses and gardens to talk about their own favorite weird, wild and wonderful plants. This is a great opportunity to get ideas and ask a botanist questions about plants you are painting.
May 8, 2015
10 am; The tour begins at 10 am sharp, so please plan to arrive earlier so you are ready. The tour will leave whether or not you are there.
The Huntington
You must RSVP with Beth Stone to attend. The Huntington will have stickers for us, so there will be no entry fee. The new café is open at The Huntington if you would like to purchase lunch after the plant tour. Details about where, when to meet up and more will be sent out later. You are welcome to spend the day at The Huntington.
Happy painting!
by Deb Shaw
Promotional for Roger’s Gardens “Day of Art,” Sunday, March 1 features a painting in progress that BAGSC member Clara Josephs was working on during the last year’s “Day of Art” at Roger’s.
Due to the much-needed rain, Roger’s Garden’s “Day of Art” has been postponed until Sunday, April 26th. Sorry for any inconvenience.
The same free workshop and demonstrations schedule will be held; everything should be the same except the weather. The end of April should promise a beautiful Spring day, with little chance of rain.
In the meantime, we welcome the water!!
by Deb Shaw
Promotional for Roger’s Gardens “Day of Art,” Sunday, March 1 features a painting in progress that BAGSC member Clara Josephs was working on during the last year’s “Day of Art” at Roger’s.
Roger’s Garden is proud to present their 3rd Annual “Day of Art,” Sunday, March 1 from 10 AM – 4 PM. (In case of rain, this event will be cancelled until further notice.) For the event schedule, visit the Roger’s Gardens’ Art Gallery page.
This Springtime event attracts 50 invited plein air and botanical artists painting and drawing in the Gardens for the day. A painting by each of the participating artists will be on display and available to the public for purchase. This year Roger’s will be judging the 50 original artworks with awards and recognitions.
Open to the public at no charge, all visitors will have the opportunity to participate in scheduled workshops and demonstrations.
BAGSC members Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Patricia Mark and Deborah Shaw will be participating in the event, and BAGSC will have an information table about botanical art, our group, and our upcoming events and plans. Deborah, Clara, and Diane will be teaching a free “Drawing in your garden” introductory botanical art workshop from 2 pm to 3 pm on that afternoon. The workshop is free and open to the public, no art experience required. Roger’s Gardens will supply basic drawing materials, or participants can bring additional supplies.
Roger’s Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd., Corona Del Mar, CA 92625, 949.640.5800.
by Deb Shaw
Erythrina caffra, Coral Tree, original watercolor by Joan Keesey, © 2015, all rights reserved.
The Botanical Artists Guild of Southern California (BAGSC), in conjunction with Dr. Jennifer Funk and students from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Chapman University, will be opening an exhibition of botanical art entitled “An Illuminating Look at Legumes.”
Held in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the Chapman University Leatherby Libraries, the exhibition explores the large, economically important plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as legumes, peas, or beans.
Exhibit dates:
Thursday, February 19 – Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Artists’ Reception and Demonstrations:
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
5:30 p.m.
Doy and Dee Henley Reading Room
Leatherby Libraries, 2nd Floor, Chapman University
One University Drive, Orange, California 92866
Legumes are the third largest flowering plant family on earth, after orchids (Orchidaceae) and daisies (Asteraceae). They are incredibly diverse, ranging from huge trees, twining, vigorous vines to small delicate annuals and even a few aquatic plants. They grow all over the world, except in Antarctica and the high Arctic.
Many legumes have a unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through their root nodules, and, in doing so can replenish our soils and colonize barren areas.
Accompanied by interesting descriptions of the plants by Dr. Funk, her students and BAGSC members, the artists have depicted members of this family that are important agriculturally; thrive in desert and semi-arid environments; are weedy and invasive; and grow as trees.
Artists include: Cristina Baltayian, Melanie Campbell-Carter, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Cynthia F. Jackson, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia A. Mark, Arillyn Moran-Lawrence, Terri Munroe, Alyse Ochniak, Robyn Reilman, Mitsuko Schultz, Janice Sharp, Deborah B. Shaw, and Jude Wiesenfeld.
This exhibition has been sponsored by BAGSC, Chapman University Leatherby Libraries, and Chapman University Schmid College of Science and Technology.
For exhibit hours please visit: www.chapman.edu/library/info/hours.html
Visitor parking near the Leatherby Libraries is available for $2.00 – $3.00 and may be purchased from the permit dispenser. For more detailed parking information, fees, maps and directions to Chapman University, please visit: www.chapman.edu/map
by Deb Shaw
It’s going to be a busy year for BAGSC! Keep your eyes on this BAGSC News Blog and your emails for calendars and updates, as they start coming in at a fast pace.
Here is the BAGSC General Quarterly Meeting schedule for the year:
- Saturday, February 21: Deb’s place, 9:30 am for coffee, tea and greetings, with the meeting starting promptly at 10 am. This meeting will combine a BAGSC General Meeting with the next BAGSC Volunteer Meeting as the program following the General Meeting. The General Meeting will include important information about upcoming classes, workshops, exhibitions and the Symposium. Please RSVP to Deb with your potluck choice, and bring your ongoing work to share with the group.The Weird, Wild & Wonderful Volunteer Meeting will include committee packets, information, deadlines, forms and letters so we can roll up our sleeves and dig in. It also will include a quick Basecamp presentation to learn how we’ll manage the information for the Symposium, so if you would like to bring your laptop or iPad, feel free (but not required!). If you cannot make this meeting, but still want to volunteer, please let Tania Marien know so we can add you to our lists.
- Sunday, April 26
- Saturday, September 12
- Saturday, December 5, BAGSC Holiday Party (and very short meeting)
An email blast will be sent out before each meeting with locations, directions and more information.
The schedule for BAGSC Weird, Wild & Wonderful Volunteer Meetings will be:
- Sunday, March 22
- Saturday, April 18
- Sunday, May 31
- Saturday, June 20: the final pre-Symposium meeting
- Saturday, July 18: send out last-minute announcements via email before Symposium week begins!!
- Week of July 27: Work with BAGSC Exhibition committee
By Beth Stone and Janice Sharp
The BAGSC information and sales table, with some of the Camellia botanical artwork.
The Camellia Societies of Southern California (Kern County, Pacific, Southern California and San Diego Camellia Societies) held their first Camellia show of the 2015 season at Descanso Gardens on January 17 and 18, 2015. As part of the show, members of BAGSC were invited to hang “Camellia” art works. Ten artists, Diane Daly, Estelle DeRidder, Clara Josephs, Joan Keesey, Suzanne Kuuskmae, Patricia Mark, Mitsuko Schultz, Gilly Shaeffer, Janice Sharp, and Beth Stone submitted a combined total of 20 artworks.
The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with beautiful Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanical artwork.
The craftsman style elegance of Descanso’s Van de Kamp Hall filled with table after table covered with wildly diverse Camellia blooms was a beautiful setting for botanicals. The art of our members was well received by Camellia flower exhibitors and the public alike as a refreshing addition to the floral display.
Descanso Gardens was also enthusiastic to use the art to complement the current Camellia blooming season and has agreed to hang all 20 painting in the Boddy House where they will remain on display for the next several months.
In addition to participating in the botanical art exhibition, Beth Stone won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.
In addition, Beth participated in the Camellia show where she won five prizes for her outstanding Camellia flowers.
Many thanks to David Brown and Susan Armstrong of Descanso Gardens and George Harrison and Tom Gilfoy of the Pacific Camellia Society for making this collaboration with BAGSC possible.
Thanks also to Clara Josephs for encouraging this project from the beginning and to Deb Shaw for creating the publicity flier and attending to multiple necessary details. Thank you to Gilly Shaeffer for demonstrating watercolor techniques during the exhibit and to Melanie Cambell-Carter, Diane Daly, Clara Josephs, Patricia Mark, Tania Norris, Veronica Raymond and Mitsuko Schultz for volunteering to set-up, staff and take down the exhibit.
BAGSC News 